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Sunday, December 17, 2017

Yellow-headed Amazon (also known as the Yellow-headed Parrot and Double Yellow-headed Amazon) at Cougar Mountain Zoological Park, USA perching on zookeepers left hand. This subspecies is sometimes called the Tres Marias Amazon and originates from the Tres Marías Islands, off west-central Mexico. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Originally from the coastal regions of Mexico, the Yellow-headed Amazon parrots have become popular pets partly because of their attractive markings.

These birds are predominantly green with a striking yellow head and a red patch on each wing. They can also be found south of Mexico in Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras.

Although they prefer habitats like tropical or subtropical forests, savannahs, mangrove swamps, or cultivated land where trees are available for nesting, Yellow-headed Amazon parrots are now considered rare and on the endangered list because of poaching and illegal trade and because of deforestation resulting in the loss of their nesting habitat.

Captive bred Yellow-headed Amazons are widely available as pets but can be somewhat expensive. They are an extremely popular parrot species to own because of their vocal abilities.

They are a close second to the African Grey parrot which is considered the best talker in the parrot world. Although all Amazons are capable of talking not all do.

Their talking ability varies with each bird. Some birds are excellent talkers while other may never talk. Yellow-headed Amazon parrots are extremely intelligent, funny, and active birds. They like to receive attention and do so by sometimes being loud and playful. They are said to be the loudest of all the Amazon parrots. But, it is possible to replace screeching with human speech with a little bit of training.

Because Yellow-headed Amazon parrots are active they thrive in an environment that allows them to fly and move around. An aviary is a great enclosure but they can also adjust to indoor cages as long as sufficient daily exercise is offered by their owner.

These parrots are also easily tamed and trained. But, like most large parrot species, Yellow-headed Amazons can be destructive. Owners need to provide their birds with plenty of chewing toys and braches.

These parrots can grow to the average length of fifteen inches although females are slightly smaller than males.

Yellow-headed Amazon parrots have a stout, hooked beak that is not only used for cracking the hard shells of seeds and nuts but also for grasping, exploring, and climbing.

They also use their feet to climb and it is almost like another hand for them. Amazons have two toes pointing forwards and two toes pointing backward which make them perfect for grasping. They will use their feet to hold food while eating.

In the wild Yellow-headed Amazons eat a variety of fruits, berries, nuts, blossoms, and leaf buds. They have also been known to raid agricultural crops like maize. When living in a home environment with an owner these birds enjoy vegetables, fruit, seeds, nuts, berries, and pellet food.

ike all parrots nutrition is very important to their health and their lives.

When considering having one of these beautiful birds as a pet, owners should consider the longevity of their commitment.

Yellow-headed Amazon parrots can live to be sixty to eighty years old. Although no pet is perfect, these parrots are sure to give their owners hours of entertainment and pleasure.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

The yellow parrot in the Amazon really has many different appearances; the most noted is the Yellow headed Amazon which stands anywhere from 15 to 17 inches tall, with a short tall, yellow head and sturdy body. A sad fact about this yellow parrot is that they are on the endangered list in Mexico and in Central America. The attractiveness of Yellow-headed Amazons continues to increase poaching which is why they have been nearly driven to extinction in the wild. The reason for this is they are so appealing because they make a great pet and are excellent talkers. Their speaking abilities are considered to be outdone only by the African Grey Parrot and matched by the Yellow-naped Parrot.

The Yellow-naped Parrot or Yellow-naped Amazon is considered to be a sub-species of Yellow-crowned Amazon. It is notable by its green forehead and crown and a yellow band across the lower nape of their neck. The reason this parrot is well-liked as a pet is because they mimics sounds, and when in captivity this includes humans and anything else that they hear plus they have an mischievous personality. During the breeding season males are known to bite because they feel that they are defending their nest.

The Yellow-crowned Parrot averages about the same size as the Yellow head Amazon parrot their tail is more squares and have mostly all green feathers and dark blue tips which are difficult to see when they are on a perch. The amount of yellow on the parrot varies which is restricted to the crown-region, hence the name. They are usually found in pairs or small flocks and as with most parrots their foods consist of fruits, nuts, and seeds and berries. They like to nest in hollow trees and they lay anywhere from 2 -3 eggs and the incubation time is only about 26 days about sixty days after hatching they leave the nest.

Amazon parrots such as the Yellow headed Amazon, Yellow naped Amazon, and Yellow face parrot (which is declining or has already disappeared in large areas of its former range in Brazil, are all generally kept as pets because of their extraordinary speaking abilities, mischievousness, and agility with their feet. They can live up to fifty years old and make very devoted pets. Nevertheless even well taught parrots can become hostile dunning mating season.

These Amazon yellow parrots require more attention than our domesticated cats or dogs. Which involve making sure these birds have plenty of chewing toys and branches. They enjoy chewing wood and should be provided with chunks of pine or fir wood. They also love branches with leaves which they benefit from the nutrients obtained from chewing leaves and green bark. Good types of branches to offer include willow, honeysuckle, eucalyptus, palms, bottle brush, and fruit woods. These parrots can be destructive that is why they need non-destroyable safe toys as well. They don't seem to have the nervous plucking of their feathers as some species.

They are very active birds they prosper in an area that allows them to fly and move around, an aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds and would be recommended because unlike cages, aviaries permit the bird to have a larger living space where they can fly. They need a proper diet which would consist of fresh vegetables and fruits, sprouted seeds and grains, and other whole foods that will keep your parrot healthy.

How yellow parrots or any parrot for that matter has been raised will drastically affect its personality. Parrots vary in their temperament, noise level, talking capability, attraction to people and care that they need. They can be a joy to have in your life.

Among the Amazon parrots beside the Yellow-headed, Yellow-naped, Yellow-crowned you will also find the Orange-winged Amazon, and Blue-fronted Amazon, which are as well frequently kept as pets. All of these birds along with Macaws and the African Greys are known for their outstanding vocal abilities.